Improvement in thill-couplings



B.-F HORTON.

Thill Coupling.

Patented March 21, 1871.

lwwemTtoY- ttniirb $td2z that tffim Letters Patent No. 112,811, da.ted March 21, 1 871.

'IMPROVEMENT m THILL-COYUPLINGS.

The Schedule referred to In these Letters Patent and making part of the same.

I, BENJAMIN F. Honron, of Ithaca, Tompkins county, New York, have invented an Improved Coupling for Shafts or Thills, and Wagon-Poles, of which the following is a specification. v

My-object is to make a hook and disk coupling, and fit it soas to lock and be unlocked readily, as well as be permanently made and easily used; and

The natureof my inventionwill be apparent as I describe it.

Figure 1 is a side elevation of my invention.

Figure 2, views of the disk detached.

Figure 3, of the thill-bar, from the rear, and detached.

a is the space for the axle in the clip; and

bis the-axleclip; and v c, the cross-bar under the axle; and

d is the hook-coupling, fast to the clip, and having the aperture f, through which the thill-bar lock m fig. 3, is inserted or taken out at pleasure; and

e is a flat disk 'he thickness of the hook, and having a slot, t, in it, in .which lies a piece of rubber, k, for the purpose of keeping the thill-bar in contact with the hook; and also in the slot the cross-piece of the bar, (m, fig. 3;) and further, this disk is held from falling out of the hook by the ear-pieces g, whenever the thills are uncoupled.

In fig. 2, at e, is seen the deep slot '5 in the disk, the rubber at its base, and the ear-pieces g; and at e the edge of the disk is shown with the ear-pieces.

In fig. 3 is seen the slot j, between the two projectio'ns j, which lap over the junction of the disk and hook, giving a steadiness to the disk and a more even wear to the several parts of my coupling; and

m is the cross-piece of the thill-bar or the lockingpiece.

It will be noticed that fig. 1 represents thethill or shaft-bar in the position it has when the horse is in the thills, and that then uncoupling is-impossible; that the wear of the disk by drawing cornes outhe side of the disk next to to the letter g, and that when the thills are raised upward sutlicieutly the cross or locking-piece an can. be unlocked through the aperture f, as can be done when the horse is detached.

The other advantages and uses of my invention are apparent to those skilled in the art towhich it appertains.

Claims.

1. In combination withthe hook and disk, the arrangement of the locking-slot f, in the upper and rearward part of the hook d, substantially as set forth.

2.- The ear-pieces g, fast to the sides of the disk e, substantially as set forth.

3. The rubber It, when situated in the bottom of the slot 1), and thrusting the cross or locking-piece m against the hook d, as set forth.

4. The shaft-bar h, when it has the slot made by the projections j, as set forth. s

5. The combined whole, consisting of the. upper 

